Sport practice apparatus



Dec. .15, 1942.

B. H. NEIDEN SPORT PRACTICE APPARATUS 2 sheetslshe'et 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1940 FIELE DCC- 15, 1942. B. HfNElDEN 2,305,87`

SLPRT PRACTICE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2o, 1946 2 sheets-sheet 2 F'IE Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STATE@ PATENT OFFICE 2,305,187 Y. SPORT PRACTICE APPARATS .Benjamin HQNeiaen, oakland, Calif.

vApplication August zo, y1940 serial No. 353,367 s Claims. ,(Cl. 27s-29) l This invention relates to apparatus for practising and teaching athletic sports involving the striking of a ball, as in tennis and golf.

One object of the invention is to provide ap paratus for this purpose in which the ball is supported for striking by the player in the same positions in which the ball is struck in actual play. For example, in practicing tennis the ball may be supported overhead for serving and waist-high for ground strokes, etc., while in practising golf the ball may besupported in teed-u position onthe ground.

Another object of-'the invention is to provide apparatus forlthis purpose in which the ball when struck travels around in a circular path tangent to the normal line of night of the ball.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus particularly intended for tennis.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus particularly intended for golf.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modication of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is 'a plan view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a plan view with parts in section of the means for supporting the ball in thefappa-z ratus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation thereof.

The tennis apparatus will be described rst. It comprises a rectangular base I0 (Figs. 1 and 2) which may be constructed of wood and which is provided with blocks I I and I 2 by means of which it is spaced from the wall I3 or other vertical part of a building to which it is attached e by any suitable means, such as bolts I4 and I5.

Intermediate the wall I 3 and the base Ill is disposed a clamping block I6 which may be of wood and is substantially the same width as base I0. Four bolts I'I provided with wing nuts pass through apertures in the block I6 and through two slots I8 and I9 (Fig. 2) in the base I0. A support, indicated generally at (Fig. 1), is adapted to be secured in any adjusted vertical position on the base I 0 by means of the clamping block and its bolts I'I.

The support 20 is constructed of metal pieces secured together, as by welding. It comprises two Vertical angles 2I, 22 (Fig. 2) welded to two horizontal straps 23, 24. A V-shaped member (Fig. 6) constructed of angle iron has its ends 26, 27 secured to vertical angles 2|, 22 at the tops thereof. The member 25 projects out horizontally and at its outer end it has a portion 28 parallel to the base III which is apertured to retennis strokes is as follows:

ceive a bolt 3S. A diagonal brace 29 (Fig. 1) provides additional'support. for the outer end ofthe member 25. v

The bolt 3)V (Fig. 6) is held in place Yin the portion 23 of the member 25 by a nut 3l and a lock nut 32. The lock nut 32 is spaced from the head 33 of the bolt to expose the shank of the bolt which serves as a pivot for an S-shaped swivel 34 (Fig. v7) having a exible, but inextensible, means, such asv a cord or wire 35 attached thereto'at 3B.

vA tennis ball is attachedto the end of the wire 35 at lil. A rubber tube or sheath 42 is preferably placed around the wire 35 to vprotect the racket i3 (Fig. l).

The operation of the apparatus for practising The base ID is mounted on the wall I3 and the support 20 is attached to the bolts I'I. In order to practise overhead strokes, such as the service and the smash, the support is raised toa position such as that shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 where the ball 43 is at the desired height. Then the wing nuts on thel belts are .tightened to clamp the block I5 against the base IIlto hold the support 20 rmly in place.

When the ball lll is struck by the racket it travels around in a circle the center of which is on the axis of the bolt 36. To practise strokes at lower elevations, such as the forehand and backha-nd drives, the support 23 is lowered to the position indicated in broken lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The path of travel of the ball when struck is indicated by the circle 45 in Fig. 2. The circle 45 is tangent to the line 46 which would be the normal line of night of the ball in play. If the ball is hit flat and in a line parallel to the wall I3 (Fig, l) the ball will rotate in a vertical plane 41.

If the ball is sliced or hit on a diagonal line it will rotate in an inclined plane such as that p indicated at 4B. The ball whirls in this plane for some time, thus serving as a visible indication of the manner in which it was struck. This is particularly advantageous in learning the nat drive. To master this stroke on the apparatus the player strives to hit the ball so that it will rotate in the vertical plane 41.

The apparatus is readily adjustable to position the ball 4S at any elevation to accommodate players of diierent stature and to practise different strokes. When not in use the support 23 can be detached by removing the wing nuts of the bolts Il. The mounting blocks II, I2 should be thick enough to prevent the bolts I 'I from disengaging from the slots I8, I9 when the support 20 is removed so that the ends of the bolts will project through the slots for again attaching the support.

The golf practice apparatus comprises a stake S (Fig. 3) adapted to be driven into the ground. A shaft or pin 5I is rotatable in a bore 52 in the stake and is held therein by a set screw 53 threaded through the stake and engaging in a groove 54 in the shaft. A rod 55 is rigidly secured in the shaft 5I to project horizontally from the upper end thereof. A golf ball 56 or a suitable representation thereof is rigidly secured to the outer end of the rod 55 Which serves as a supporting arm therefor. The ball 56 is thus supported in teed-up position above the ground. The player practises his strokes by striking the ball 56 with a golf club 51. When they ball is struck it travels in a circle tangent to the normal line of ght of the ball, the shaft 5| rotating in the stake 5t.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is adapted to be attached to the floor for use indoors. For this purpose the shaft 5I is received in the bore 52 of a member 60 having a flange 6l. Screws 62 passing through the flange 6I are threaded into the floor 63. The shaft 5| is retained by a set screw 53 engaging in a groove 54'. The golf ball 56 isv supported on a`n arm 55 secured in the shaft 5|. A mat 64 is placed under the ball on the floor. When the ball 56 is struck by the club 51 it travels around in the circle 65 (Fig. 5) which is tangent to the normal line of ight 66.

Having disclosed my invention and the manner in which it is to be used, I claim:

l. An apparatus for practising tennis comprising a support, a second support, means to detachably secure said second support to said first support in a selected vertical position on said rst support, a ball, and means to suspend said ball from said second support.

2. An apparatus for practising tennis comprising a vertical support, a horizontally-extending bracket, means to suspend a tennis ball from the outer end of said bracket for rotation in a circle when struck, and means to clamp said bracket to said support comprising a clamping member adapted to engage the rear side of said support, and a plurality of bolts extending through said member and said bracket, whereby said tennis ball may be positioned for practising overhead strokes, such as the serve, or ground strokes, such as the drive, by clamping said bracket at the required height above the ground on said vertical support.

3. An apparatus for practising tennis comprising a support adapted to be secured to the Wall of a building, said support having a plurality of spaced apart parallel slotsextending vertically substantially the length of said support, a clamping block, a horizontally-extending bracket, bolts extending through said block, said slots and said bracket for clamping said block and said bracket on said support, and means to suspend a tennis ball from the outer end of said bracket for rotation in a circle When struck.

BENJAMIN H. NEIDEN. 

